Cost of living index

Watertown, NY

87.7 / 100

Living in Watertown, NY is 12.3% cheaper than the US average — the #345 of 387 highest nationally.

Median rent: $1,214/mo

Median home value: $181,000

Figures — including the cost index, median rent, and median home value — cover the wider Watertown, NY metropolitan area, not individual neighbourhoods or city boundaries.

Seasonal weather

Winter

32° / 13°F

(0° / -11°C)

8.2 in precip

Spring

53° / 32°F

(12° / 0°C)

8.4 in precip

Summer

77° / 56°F

(25° / 13°C)

9.3 in precip

Fall

59° / 39°F

(15° / 4°C)

11.2 in precip

30-year climate normals (1991–2020) from WATERTOWN INTL AP, via NOAA.

What it costs to live in Watertown, NY

The Watertown, NY metro area has an overall price level of 87.7 compared with the national average of 100, meaning everyday costs run about 12.3% lower than a typical US metro. Housing tells the sharper story: at 53.2 it is 46.8% below the national average. Housing rents are often one of the largest sources of difference between metro areas, so this figure can have a significant impact when comparing locations.

Cost breakdown

Overall#345 of 387

87.7

Goods#92 of 387

99.7

Housing rents#367 of 387

53.2

Utilities#50 of 387

132.2

Other services#264 of 387

97.8

Watertown, NY is moved down the most by housing rents, at 53.2 vs a US average of 100, while the closest to average is goods.

How Watertown, NY compares

Other metros in New York

Albany, NY99.6 Binghamton, NY92.9 Buffalo, NY95.8 Elmira, NY94.4 Glens Falls, NY94.9 Ithaca, NY103.3 Kingston, NY100.7 Kiryas Joel, NY109.4

See all 13 metros in New York →See the cheapest and most expensive US metros →

Data source

Figures on this page come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities dataset, 2024 — the most recent year published. An index of 100 marks the national average; a metro above 100 has higher prices than a typical US metro, below 100 lower. Median rent and median home value are from the US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 2023 5-year estimates, and seasonal weather is from NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals. These are regional figures only, not a complete personal budget — they don’t account for individual spending habits, taxes, or household circumstances. See the full methodology for how the index and salary-equivalent estimates are calculated.

Compare My City is an independent project and is not operated by, endorsed by, or affiliated with the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, or NOAA.

Common questions

Is Watertown, NY an expensive place to live?

Watertown, NY has an overall cost-of-living index of 87.7, where 100 is the US average. That makes it about 12.3% cheaper than the country as a whole.

Is housing expensive in Watertown, NY?

Housing rents in Watertown, NY score 53.2 against a US average of 100 — roughly 46.8% below average. Housing rents are often the main driver of differences in overall price levels between metro areas.

How does Watertown, NY compare to the US average cost of living?

Overall prices in Watertown, NY sit at 87.7 versus 100 for the US average, with housing at 53.2. Figures come from the US Bureau of Economic Analysis for 2024.